I have really been wanting to get a decent dovetail saw for a long time now, but indecision and a frugal streak have me stuck. I have a crown gents saw that sorta works, but I feels like it was meant for a different job than cutting dovetails.

Of course the top of my list is the Lie Nielsen dovetail saw, the thing looks like a work of art. However, given my current budget that is waaaay outside my range. I just can’t justify that kind of cash outlay on a hand tool with 2 small kids.

So the next thing on my list would be the Veritas dovetail saw, it looks really nice and I bet it cuts great, but then i saw this: the Lee Valley Veritas dovetail system! The goal here is to cut dovetails; tight, strong, impress your friends and neighbors dovetails. This looks like it would do the job… but its not really what I had in mind. The reviews on Lumberjocks are stellar and it looks like a nice tool system.

And then I saw this guy! He converted a saw just like mine into a more traditional dovetail machine. That would be a nice little project and nearly free. Maybe a nice addition to the saw rack with the Lee Valley system…

What would you buy? I am kind of leaning toward the Lee Valley system, I could go all New Yankee and get a jig… but I wouldn’t read this forum all the time if thats how I rolled.

2 replies so far

Nate, I have the LN dovetail saw, and it is a very nice tool. However, after seeing the Gent’s saw converted to one with a nicer handle (in my opinion anyway), I have to say, that is the way to go if you cannot afford something ready to go. That saw looks every bit as good as the LN. Crown makes nice tools and I am sure you have a nice saw blade on yours, just need a better handle. If I were you, I would retro fit the Crown saw with that handle and save some money. You would have a very nice saw at the end of the day.

I’d be looking for an old dovetail saw from eBay, even if you need to put a new handle on it. A pistol grip is much nicer to use for dovetails than a gents saw. Though that conversion looks interesting.

As for the dovetail system….why bother to hand cut them at all if you are going to take the human element out?. May as well just use a router and jig :P

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